(TNS) — Repairs to damage in the Pennsylvania House chamber caused by a busted pipe above the ornate ceiling were completed a month ahead of schedule. Now the scaffolding used to do that work is moving to the Senate chamber for a project there, according to House Speaker Joanna McClinton.
She reported on her website the amount of damage to the ceiling caused by the water leak last winter was not serious. The Capitol Preservation Committee has inspected and signed off on the repairs, she said.
“We’re grateful that the water damage to the chamber’s ceiling was modest and that the dedicated craftsmen were able to complete repairs ahead of schedule,” said McClinton, D-Philadelphia, in a statement. “And as a true symbol of government that works, the quick repairs to the House chamber meant that the scaffolding is now being assembled in the Senate Chamber to accelerate a project there, saving time and resources.”
The Senate plans to install new lamps in all the light fixtures in the chamber, a project anticipated to be completed before senators return to session on March 18, said Erica Clayton Wright, a spokeswoman for Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland County.
It was unclear on Monday whether the cost of the work on the House chamber that began on Jan. 5 came in lower than the Department of General Services’ $150,000 estimate since that office was closed for President’s Day.
Having the space unavailable forced McClinton to move the General Assembly to the Capitol Rotunda for the Feb. 6 budget address by Gov. Josh Shapiro. McClinton reported the work in the chamber was finished in a Feb. 9 update.
The timing of the repair work in the House was questioned by Republicans noting that it allowed time for a special election to fill a Bucks County House seat vacated by former Democrat Rep. John Galloway, leaving the chamber’s partisan divided teetering on a 101-101 seat split. McClinton’s spokeswoman said at the time the vacancy played no role in determining the timeline for repairs.
Subsequently, Republican Rep. Joe Adams of Pike and Wayne counties resigned immediately on Feb. 9 for family reasons, giving Democrats back their one-seat advantage. The special election to fill the Bucks County House seat held last week was won by Democrat Jim Prokopiak, who when seated next month will give the Democrats a two-seat margin.
At least that’s until the special election to fill Adams’ seat is held on April 23.
